156: The same question, different answers

Shen Yueling pushed open the Villa door, bent down to change her shoes, and placed them in the shoe cabinet.

The house was very quiet. The lights in the living room were off, and the curtains were half-drawn, making the light a bit dim.

Looking up, she saw Bai Xinran walking over from the direction of the rooms.

Bai Xinran pursed her lips, which still had a slight sheen of moisture on them.

When she saw Shen Yueling, her footsteps paused for a moment.

“Sister Yueling,” Bai Xinran greeted her.

Shen Yueling nodded, and a scent wafted over.

It was faint, but very familiar.

She glanced toward the room; the door was ajar. She narrowed her eyes and said, “Go rinse your mouth quickly.”

Bai Xinran gave an 'en' of agreement, her throat bobbing as she swallowed, then she turned and walked toward the kitchen.

Shen Yueling threw her backpack onto the sofa, walked to the room's door, and pushed it open.

Yu Heng was standing by the bed fastening his belt. Hearing the movement, he turned his head and saw Shen Yueling standing at the door.

“You're back?” Yu Heng said, without stopping his movements as he buckled his belt.

“Mhm.” Shen Yueling walked into the room, and the scent became even more pronounced.

She walked to the window and pulled the curtain open a little, letting the afternoon light filter in.

“Is the business finished?” Yu Heng picked up a T-shirt from the bed and pulled it on.

“It's finished.” Shen Yueling turned around, leaned back against the windowsill, and looked at him. “Did you bully A Ling again?”

Yu Heng walked over and stood in front of her. “How is that bullying?”

“You tell me.” Shen Yueling looked up at him. “I smelled it as soon as I walked in.”

Yu Heng smiled, propping his hands on the windowsill on either side of her, trapping her in the middle. “Jealous?”

“No.” Shen Yueling turned her face away. “I just think... you don't pick your timing.”

“Broad daylight isn't okay?” Yu Heng leaned closer, his breath brushing against her ear. “Then do you prefer the night?”

Shen Yueling didn't dodge, nor did she respond.

She didn't actually feel much jealousy in her heart; she just felt that Yu Heng was being a bit excessive.

The way A Ling looked, it was obvious she had just been put through the wringer by him.

But she also knew that A Ling was willing, and perhaps even couldn't wait for it.

“Doesn't she have class?” Shen Yueling asked.

“No,” Yu Heng said. “She's been busy with switching platforms lately, and her live streams have stopped too.”

Bai Xinran came out of the kitchen and saw that Yu Heng and Shen Yueling were already in the living room.

Yu Heng was sitting on the sofa, and Shen Yueling was sitting sideways on his lap, her head resting in the crook of his shoulder.

“Should I cook?” Bai Xinran said softly.

Yu Heng looked up at her. “Sure, go ahead. Just make something simple.”

Bai Xinran hummed in response and turned back into the kitchen.

Yu Heng's hand rested on Shen Yueling's waist, his fingers brushing against the edge of her sweater's hem.

He suddenly remembered He Mengyao's comment on the phone today about childhood friends having an affair, and he suddenly spoke up: “Let me ask you a question.”

Shen Yueling tilted her head, her chin resting on his shoulder. “What is it?”

“Suppose things weren't like they are now,” Yu Heng paused before continuing, “and we were still just childhood friends. If I got married in the future, what would you do?”

Shen Yueling didn't answer immediately; she waited a few seconds before speaking: “Then we'd still just be childhood friends.”

“Then if I wanted to have an affair with you,” Yu Heng continued, his hand slipping under the hem of her sweater, “would you agree?”

“I don't know,” she murmured. “The current me definitely wouldn't, but in the future... who can say for sure.”

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. That time he had blacked out from drinking, Shen Yueling hadn't actually done something, had she?

But back then Shen Yueling also had a boyfriend, so He Mengyao must have indeed been overthinking it.

Shen Yueling turned her face, her eyes looking at him. “Why are you suddenly asking this?”

Her eyelashes were very long, casting shallow shadows in the afternoon light.

“No reason,” Yu Heng's hand caressed her waist, “just suddenly curious.”

“I can accept a relationship like the one we have now,” Shen Yueling was silent for a few seconds before speaking again, “but I definitely wouldn't accept being the other woman.”

“Why?” Yu Heng's hand stopped.

“If you're married, then it's sneaky, something that can't see the light of day,” Shen Yueling said. “I don't want that.”

“What if she also knew,” Yu Heng added, “and she didn't mind either?”

Shen Yueling said, “Even then, probably not.”

“Why?” Yu Heng narrowed his eyes.

“Because it's unequal. She and you would be legal,” Shen Yueling continued. “She would have a natural advantage. I would be unprotected.”

His wife could openly walk out with him arm-in-arm, while she could only meet him when he was free.

In that kind of relationship, she would be the weak party, without even the right to get angry.

Unlike now, where she and Bai Xinran are at least equal in Yu Heng's eyes.

A legal wife could righteously accuse her, calling her shameless.

But with her and Yu Heng like this now, and Bai Xinran here too, no one has the right to scold anyone; this was their own choice.

“But like this, we are all equal.” Shen Yueling paused, then murmured, “At least, we are equal in your eyes.”

“Understood,” Yu Heng said.

He didn't say anything else.

Shen Yueling didn't speak again either.

She felt Yu Heng should have understood.

He's so smart, he definitely would.

After a while, Yu Heng's hand withdrew from her sweater and rested on her thigh.

“Don't worry,” Yu Heng said deeply in her ear, “no matter what stage we reach in the future, I will protect you both well.”

“Mhm,” Shen Yueling responded, “you're not allowed to let us down.”

Her body relaxed, leaning into his embrace.

This topic was over.

She had expressed her thoughts, and he had gotten his answer.

Bai Xinran poked her head out from the kitchen: “Food's ready, let's eat!”

—

After eating, Shen Yueling stayed for a while and then left; she hadn't applied for off-campus housing, so she still had to return to the dormitory.

After Bai Xinran finished washing the dishes, she walked over to the sofa and sat down on Yu Heng's other side.

Bai Xinran pulled her legs up, hugging her knees.

Her feet touched Yu Heng's leg, and Yu Heng reached out to grasp her ankle.

“Your feet are so cold,” he said.

“I just washed the dishes with cold water,” Bai Xinran said. “The hot water in our house takes a bit long to come out of the tap.”

Yu Heng tucked her feet under the hem of his hoodie, pressing them against his stomach.

Bai Xinran's body stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed.

“Is your mood a bit better?” she asked.

“Much better,” Yu Heng said.

“Because of Sister Yueling?”

“Partly.” Yu Heng took her feet out from under his clothes and held them in his hands.

Her feet were very pretty, delicate and fair.

Many people's pinky toes are flawed, but hers weren't; her feet were like a work of art.

“A Ling,” he called out.

“Yes?”

“If I get married one day,” Yu Heng said, “what would you do?”

Bai Xinran pursed her lips and said softly, “You're going to get married?”

“I said if,” Yu Heng said.

“I don't know,” she said honestly. “I haven't thought about it.”

“Think about it now,” Yu Heng said.

“I wouldn't do anything,” she paused and said, “I just need to be obedient.”

“Obedient?”

“Mhm,” Bai Xinran said. “Whatever you want me to do, I'll do. If you don't want to see me after you get married, then I... won't see you.”

“Why would I not see you?” He pulled her closer. “Even if I really do get married, I'll make that person accept you.”

“But being married is different from now,” Bai Xinran paused and said, “At that time, we won't be as free as we are now. What if someone else finds out? Even if the person you marry accepts it, you will still face pressure.”

Yu Heng narrowed his eyes; the same question, a different answer.

“Silly Girl,” Yu Heng rubbed her head, “next month, let's sign a contract.”